Lawrence A. Ray

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lawrence A. Ray (RA07040359), Corporal, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving with Battery A, 63d Field Artillery Battalion, 24th Infantry Division. Corporal Ray distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against enemy aggressor forces at Kongju, Korea, on 14 July 1950. On that date Battery A was attacked from the flank by numerically superior enemy forces. Corporal Ray’s gun position was directly in the path of the assault, and when he could no longer fire his gun, he obtained a Browning Automatic Rifle, ammunition, and grenades. The, without regard for his own personal safety, advanced alone on the enemy, finally taking a position in a foxhole. The enemy charged his position and Corporal Ray stopped the attack by his accurate fire. During this second action he was wounded twice and driven from his position by mortar fire. As soon as the mortar fire slackened, Corporal Ray, despite his wounds, charged back to his former position and continued to hold off the enemy until all equipment could be destroyed and personnel withdrawn from the position.
Headquarters, Eighth U.S. Army, Korea: General Orders No. 55 (September 7, 1950)